The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-04
MEMPHIS APPEAL
THE rOURrH OF Jolly.

Today sixty.fve millions Of people,
free as the air they breathe, enjoying
the fullest measure Of liberty, will re-
ioite and celebrate in rejoicing the
birth Of the Republic Of the United
States on. the 4ih 81, July, l778. An
event momentous to the American
people, 1t was full Of significance for
the pr ople Of the world, proclaimiEg ss
II did q seli-evident truth that
Europe had hidden out Of sight, I'M
der the rubbish and rot OF divine
hght-that all governments should
derive their powers from the consent Of
the governed-giving new and
larger meaning TO the "right OF pri-
vate judg nent," than Luther or any
OF the pro-tesiants Of England had
dreamed Of, or dreaming had ever ex.
pressed. The Declaration OF In.
dependence was the fullest and
completest statement Of human
rights that had ever been presented,
and it rang through the world like q
clarion note summonirg all people 10
a consideration OF their condition and
the means Of their release from slavery,
II Was the tocsin Of great revolution,
the opening note Of war prolonged
through eight years, during which the
patriotism Of the people was put to
Vcrucial tests. But ali these they
survived, thanks 10 the guidance
OF q company Of Statesmen
whose gifts were aim est president and
as varied as were the necessities In the
organization Of the machinery Of the
government Of the young republic.
Compared, man for man, with tho
statesmen OF Europe OF that time, the
statesmen Of America take rank above
them all. The proof OF this is ours
today in the ireest, the greatest and
the best government the world hos
ever seen-"a government OF the peo-
pie, by the people and for the people"
Our written Constitution has withstood
the strains Of civil war. 1t was too
mach for the "blue lights" OF Now
England In 1912, and II was too much
for the nulli6ers OF ls30.3l. II was too
much for the whole South from 180C
TO 1885, and this because representing
the will Of the whole people 1t va,
superior TO any section. Representing
the unified powers Of all the Ststes
II was greater than any ter
or fourteen Of them. Id
limitations were represented In th,
forum and the field by the nsjority
and the majority won. The guaran
tee Of the liberty and existence Of III,
States, ID 10 the charter OF the Rspub
lie, the freely made compact Of I'VE
the people OF the United States.
Surviving every eIlgsncy and emsr
gency Of war. foreign and domestic
the United States Ia stronger an,
greater than ever, the hope OF the nj
tons, menace and an enigm
TO monarchies aud monarctists, an Il
reooncilsbls problem that coniound
their theories and logically denis
their claims 70 divine descent In 70,
eminent The Gay that ushered In O
great, so grand q government shoul
be celebrated by the people In ever
way possible TO them and th
Declaration Of Independence should b
publicly read that its strength and o
isc,iyeness may find its way TO III
hearts and minds Of the people. tn
lesson Of liberty cannot be too Of "a
learned. Tho story Of the Republ
cannot be too often told. Men cam,
he too patriotic, they oauno, love the
country too much or revere the me
who made that country what Il Ia.